In July of 2007, the Iraqi National Soccer Team defeated the heavily favored Saudi Arabian Team to win the 2007 Asian Cup.

Shortly thereafter, Captain Brian von Kraus (USMC) shared 100 posters of the Iraqi team, sent to him from his mother, with the children in the Al Anbar province.

The children, thrilled to celebrate a "national" victory, expressed a strong desire to play the most popular sport in the world.

These children come from both Sunni and Shiite families and soon formed a league with help from Capt von Kraus and his fellow Marines.

Recognizing how something simple like the sport of soccer can unite children from conflicting backgrounds, Capt von Kraus, with the help of his mother and her friends, formed Operation Ultimate Goal - a foundation whose goal is to provide Iraqi children with new soccer balls, uniforms, and nets.